The Chicago Bears defense is good. Not only is there talent at every position, but there’s also improving depth. They finished 10th overall last year and have high expectations for 2018. Vic Fangio is back. Their secondary remains intact for the first time in years. Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman man the front. First round pick Roquan Smith will (eventually) join the inside linebackers.
Yet most units always have their flaws. For this Bears defense, it’s looking like it will be the pass rush. Leonard Floyd will be back this year and that’s a good thing. Whether he can finally take that big step towards being a true double-digit sack guy remains to be seen. It’s after him though where things get uncomfortable.
Truth be told the Bears don’t really have a second rusher of note. Sam Acho is a longtime veteran who’s good in a limited role but no further. Aaron Lynch, their main free agent addition has nursed a hamstring issue since OTAs. Isaiah Irving is still untested going into his second year. Sixth round pick Kylie Fitts has health concerns of his own.
Frankly, it’s not a group that inspires confidence, leading one to wonder if the Bears might have to make another move to at least improve the depth.
Moves elsewhere present Bears defense with intriguing rush options
This time of year it’s going to be impossible to find a proven answer to the pass rush. The position is in such high demand that all the even remotely decent names are long gone. The only ones left are those with huge question marks. So any team seeking help will have to be willing to take a risk. For the Bears, it’s about trusting in Fangio.
He’s been known to squeeze good years out of players who might’ve floundered elsewhere. Given the state of things, they might want to give him that chance again. Two notable names recently hit the market who offer such an opportunity.
Kevin Dodd is a baffling situation. He was considered one of the top young pass rushers in the 2016 draft class after posting 12.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss during his final year at Clemson. His tenure in Tennessee got off to a bad start though. He had a sack in his second career game but ended up breaking his foot not once but twice during that year, forcing him onto injured reserve.
It seems he never quite recovered from that ordeal. He barely saw the field in 2017, stuck on the depth chart behind other veterans. Then, after refusing to attend training camp under a new coaching staff, the Titans elected to cut their losses and released him. Most feel Dodd is done and not worth signing. Yet he’s still just 26-years old and can be had for cheap. Sometimes a change of scenery is all a player needs to rediscover himself.
Malik McDowell another physical marvel who can be a cheap flier
Another promising defensive lineman who saw a disappointing run with his original team is Malik McDowell. His situation is even more tragic. The former Michigan State standout was in a bad ATV accident before his pro career could even begin. He reportedly suffered severe head and facial trauma. So much that he missed all of 2017 as a result. Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports claims it may be a long shot he ever plays again.
McDowell himself disputed that claim last year. He never made it seem like his career was in danger of being over. That his plan is to return to the field. What’s unclear is whether he still believes this and the Seahawks just weren’t willing to give him the chance. In the wake of his injury, they made a number of moves to deepen their pass rush, so his presence was less and less required by the start of this offseason.
What’s unknown here is McDowell’s health. Did the Seahawks cut him because of that or because they weren’t willing to be patient anymore? There’s no way to know. If he’s truly on the mend then this is a player the Bears have to at least explore. His physical upside coming out of college was immense. At 6’6, 290 lbs he was built like a defensive tackle but could move like an end. He’d be a great fit at 3-4 defensive end under Fangio.
Understand that neither of these players would be considered saviors. They’re merely young talents who have lost their way but still have upside. If they could be brought into the fold and given a clean slate, they may yet rediscover the forms that made them so effective during their college careers. What do the Bears have to lose?
